Itinerary
- Day 1
Melbourne
You'll land in Melbourne and check into your riverside hotel. Your Travel Director will meet you at South Wharf for dinner at a local restaurant, which gives you a chance to connect with the other travelers on your trip.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne)
Landmarks Yarra River South Wharf - Day 2
Melbourne
Join a guided tour through Melbourne's famous hidden laneways and arcades, where you'll see street art and get a feel for the cafe culture. You have free time afterward to explore on your own, or you can add on optional experiences like the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne)
Included Activities
- Private walk through Melbourne's hidden laneways
- Guided city sights tour including street art and cafe society
Optional Activities
- Penguin Parade experience at Phillip Island
- Leisure time to explore Melbourne on your own
Landmarks Melbourne Laneways Phillip Island - Day 3
Melbourne
Today splits into choices. You could walk around Melbourne's boutiques and galleries at your own pace, join a History and Donuts Walking Tour, or head along the Great Ocean Road, which is one of the most scenic coastal drives you can do.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne)
Optional Activities
- Explore Melbourne's boutiques, galleries, and eclectic suburbs
- History and Donuts Walking Tour
- Great Ocean Road journey
Landmarks Great Ocean Road - Day 4
Melbourne to Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Fly to Ayers Rock Resort and travel into the red desert landscape of Uluru. You'll arrive at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park at sunset, watching the landscape shift colors as the day ends. There's a chance to toast the moment with bubbles, and an optional barbecue dinner is available for extra cost.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Desert Gardens)
Included Activities
- Sunset visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
- Guided Uluru sunset experience with beverages
Optional Activities
- Exclusive Uluru Barbecue Dinner (own expense)
Landmarks Uluru Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 
- Day 5
Uluru
Wake before dawn for a sunrise experience at Uluru. Tour the base while learning about Anangu stories, then try Western Desert Art with an Aboriginal artist. You'll walk through the domes of Kata Tjuta later and finish with sunset drinks there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Desert Gardens)
Included Activities
- Uluru sunrise experience
- Guided tour of Uluru base with Anangu stories
- Western Desert Art intro with Aboriginal artist
- Walk through Kata Tjuta
- Sunset drinks at Kata Tjuta
Landmarks Uluru Kata Tjuta - Day 6
Uluru to Cairns
Spend your last morning seeing Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which has 50,000 glowing spindles spread across the desert. There's a sand dune climb available if you want to see the morning light over the landscape. After, you'll head to Cairns in the tropics.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Optional Activities
- Field of Light art installation visit with sand dune viewing (own expense)
Landmarks Field of Light - Day 7
Cairns
Choose between taking a historic rail journey through tunnels to Kuranda village in the rainforest to browse arts and crafts, then returning on the Skyrail Cableway over ancient forest. Or combine Kuranda with a wetlands cruise at Hartley's Crocodile to see saltwater crocodiles. You'll have dinner at Salt House on the waterfront with regional seafood.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Regional seafood at Salt House, Cairns waterfront, prepared on custom-built Argentinian wood fired grill)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Salt House, Cairns waterfront with regional seafood
Optional Activities
- Historic rail journey to Kuranda village
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway return journey
- Hartley's Crocodile wetlands cruise
Landmarks Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Hartley's Crocodile Cairns Esplanade - Day 8
Cairns
Board a catamaran headed to the Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel or visit the underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft to see the reef's fish and marine life. A tropical buffet lunch is served onboard before you head back to Cairns.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Tropical buffet lunch served onboard)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef catamaran cruise
- Tropical buffet lunch onboard
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling at Great Barrier Reef
- Underwater observatory visit
- Semi-submersible craft tour
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 9
Cairns to Sydney
Fly to Sydney, Australia's largest city. The day is yours to use however you want. You might walk around the harbor, hit a beach, check out neighborhoods, or just get a feel for the place.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (InterContinental Hotel Sydney)
Optional Activities
- Leisure exploration of Sydney
- Day 10
Sydney
Tour the Sydney Opera House to learn about its architecture and history. Then take a lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour with a menu focused on local food and wine. The afternoon takes you to Bondi Beach, where you can walk along the sand and soak in the scene.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Sydney Harbour Highlight Lunch Cruise with menu focusing on local food and wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (InterContinental Hotel Sydney)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Harbour Highlight Lunch Cruise with local food and wine
- Bondi Beach visit
Landmarks Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bondi Beach - Day 11
Sydney
You have options for today. Explore more of Sydney, head to the Blue Mountains to see the World Heritage wilderness and dramatic cliffs, take a BridgeClimb for views from above, or walk through the Rocks with its historic cobbled streets and galleries. Your Travel Director can help arrange any of these.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (InterContinental Hotel Sydney)
Optional Activities
- Explore more of Sydney
- Blue Mountains day trip
- Sydney BridgeClimb experience
- Explore the Rocks historic district
Landmarks Blue Mountains Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks - Day 12
Sydney
Start with a relaxed morning, perhaps an early walk around Circular Quay for last views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Later, walk through the Royal Botanic Garden to the Art Gallery of NSW for a guided tour focused on First Nations and Australian art. You'll have lunch that features native Australian flavors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Be My Guest lunch infused with native Australian flavours)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (InterContinental Hotel Sydney)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Art Gallery of NSW focusing on First Nations and Australian art
- Be My Guest lunch with native Australian flavours
Optional Activities
- Early morning walk around Circular Quay
Landmarks Circular Quay Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Art Gallery of NSW - Day 13
Sydney to Auckland
Cross the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. Meet up with your group for dinner at The Grill, where you'll try high-quality grass-fed steaks and sustainable fish from New Zealand suppliers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at The Grill featuring finest quality grassfed steaks from 100% New Zealand owned and operated suppliers, and sustainable line-caught fish)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity Auckland)
Included Activities
- Dinner at The Grill featuring New Zealand grassfed steaks and line-caught fish
- Day 14
Auckland
After a relaxed start, explore the All Blacks Experience to learn about New Zealand's national game. Then take a sightseeing tour of the city including Mission Bay, Bastion Point, and sweeping views of the North Shore from landscaped gardens.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity Auckland)
Included Activities
- Interactive All Blacks Experience
- City sightseeing tour with Mission Bay, Bastion Point, and Michael Joseph Savage Memorial views
Landmarks Mission Bay Bastion Point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Waitemata Harbour - Day 15
Auckland to Rotorua
Visit the Hobbiton film set for a guided tour of the 12-acre site with photo stops at hobbit holes and the Mill. There's lunch available for extra cost before you head to Rotorua. This evening, experience Te Po at Te Puia, a Maori history experience with hangi-inspired dinner and cultural performance, ending with hot chocolate at the Pohutu Geyser.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hangi-inspired cuisine with cultural performance in finely carved meeting house Te Aronui a Rua)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hobbiton film set (12 acres)
- Te Pō experience at Te Puia with Māori guided tour, hangi-inspired dinner, and cultural performance
- Pohutu Geyser viewing with hot chocolate
Optional Activities
- Lunch stop at Hobbiton (own expense)
Landmarks Hobbiton Movie Set Te Puia Pohutu Geyser - Day 16
Rotorua to Queenstown
Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa with a local guide. You'll learn about kiwi conservation, see eggs being incubated, and observe the hatching process and newly hatched chicks. Later, fly to Queenstown, known for adventure sports, ski fields, and good restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa guided tour with Local Specialist
Landmarks National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa - Day 17
Queenstown to Te Anau
Travel around Lake Wakatipu and up the Devil's Staircase toward Te Anau, the entrance to Fiordland National Park. You'll see Mirror Lakes and Hollyford Valley lookout along the way. Then cruise Milford Sound with a guide who points out fur seals, dolphins, dramatic cliffs, and waterfalls.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Milford Sound/Piopiotahi cruise with guide
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Devil's Staircase Mirror Lakes Hollyford Valley Cleddau Valley Milford Sound Bowen Falls Fiordland National Park - Day 18
Queenstown
Queenstown is yours to explore. Want action? Try a jet boat ride. Prefer something calmer? Glide across Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a farm tour and tea in an alpine setting. Dinner tonight is at Postmasters Cafe in historic Arrowtown.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Postmasters Cafe, a historic Arrowtown cottage)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Postmasters Cafe in Arrowtown
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride on Lake Wakatipu
- Historic TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm with guided farm tour and tea
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm Arrowtown - Day 19
Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
Travel to Lake Tekapo through Cromwell and stop at the Jones Family fruit stall to try fresh stone fruits. Check out the Highlands Motorsport Museum to see rare cars including a Michael Schumacher F1 car. Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd by the lake. As evening falls, experience guided stargazing in the Dark Sky Reserve, spotting the Southern Cross and Milky Way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo)
Included Activities
- Highlands Motorsport Museum visit
- Church of the Good Shepherd visit
- Guided stargazing experience at Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
Optional Activities
- Jones Family fruit stall tasting
Landmarks Lake Tekapo Cromwell Lake Dunstan Jones Family Fruit Stall Highlands Motorsport Museum Church of the Good Shepherd Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve - Day 20
Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch and take a guided tour of this English-style city. It's actively rebuilding with new architecture. Highlights include the Transitional Cathedral made mostly of cardboard and Turanga, the gold-clad central library.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit of Christchurch
Landmarks Christchurch Transitional Cathedral Turanga Central Library 
- Day 21
Christchurch to Hurunui Hills
Travel north through countryside to Hurunui Hills for a farm experience with the Bamford Family, who've been farming Merino sheep and Angus cattle since 1884. See a sheepdog demonstration in the woolshed. Later, head to Waipara Springs Winery for wine tasting and a platter-style lunch. Dinner features Canterbury produce.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Platter-style lunch among the vines at Waipara Springs Winery), Dinner (Celebratory dinner featuring produce from the Canterbury region)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest experience at Hurunui Hills Sheep & Cattle Farm with Bamford Family
- Sheepdog demonstration
- Wine tasting at Waipara Springs Winery
- Platter-style lunch at Waipara Springs Winery
- Celebratory dinner featuring Canterbury region produce
Landmarks Hurunui Hills Waipara Springs Winery - Day 22
Christchurch
Leave Christchurch today and head home. You'll have time to reflect on the three weeks exploring Australia and New Zealand before you depart.
- Meals
- Breakfast
